Reliant Energy's Texas Power-Retailing Chief Resigns

By Eileen O'Grady -
Nov 29, 2005

Reliant Energy Inc., owner of power
plants in 12 U.S. states, said the head of its Texas retail
business quit last week.

Jim Robb, a former McKinsey & Co. partner who joined
Reliant in 2002, tendered his resignation on Nov. 23, company
spokeswoman Pat Hammond said today in a telephone interview. She
declined to say why Robb quit or what he plans to do next. He
will remain available to Houston-based Reliant as a consultant
until Jan. 1, Hammond said.

Power retailing is Reliant's largest business, accounting
for about three-fourths of revenue, and Texas is its biggest
market. The company on Nov. 1 said it will have a $100 million
retailing loss in the first quarter after locking in higher fuel
costs than it will be able to pass on to customers under an
agreement with regulators.

Reliant will conduct a search for Robb's replacement,
Hammond said. ``Robb made a significant contribution to our
business strategy and leading us into the retail market,'' she
said.

Robb declined through Hammond to comment on his
resignation. He joined Reliant as a senior vice president after
Texas opened its $20 billion-a-year electricity market to
competition.

Shares of Reliant fell 11 cents, or 1.1 percent, to $9.75
at 11:48 a.m. in New York Stock Exchange composite trading. The
stock has dropped 29 percent this year.

Reliant is the second-largest Texas power retailer, ranking
behind Dallas-based TXU Corp. Paul O'Malley, head of TXU's power
generation and retail unit, resigned in mid-July.